QPR host one of most-expensive squads ever assembled when they host Wolves this weekend

Queens Park Rangers manager Ian Holloway is excited by the challenge of hosting leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Championship on Saturday.

Backed by Chinese owners Fosun International, Wolves have set about assembling one of the most talented squads in the division.

The west Midlands outfit splashed out £15.8m to sign Ruben Neves from Porto in the summer – a record fee for the division.

So far, it looks like money well spent with Nuno’s charges positioned near the top of the table.

On Tuesday, Wolves took Premier League leaders Manchester City to penalties in the Carabao Cup before losing.

It looks like a tough challenge for QPR this weekend, but Holloway cannot wait for the chance for his team to test themselves against one of the best in the league.

“Let’s see how we do. I think we’ve given everyone a game so far – and equally everyone is capable of giving us a game. That’s the Championship at the moment,” Holloway told the club website.

“Wolves have been more consistent than everybody else at getting the points that they need.

“Well done to them. I love the way that they try to do it, because it’s very different. They defend with five players, and also attack with five. And they very rarely have to change that.

“They drop into a 5-4-1, which is very difficult to break down, and they counter attack very quickly. They keep the ball and can move you around. That’s suiting their team and their players at the minute.”

QPR head into the game off the back of 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers last weekend, where Idrissa Sylla netted for the second game in succession.

The Rs battled back from a goal down to take the points, but Holloway was still disappointed with how his team fared from set-pieces against the Trotters.

“We needed to do better against them at set-plays than we did,” added the QPR boss.

“That’s the biggest part of their game. We practiced them enough but unfortunately with the injuries that we’ve got and the people that are out, we’re a little bit shorter as a team.

“We’ve got a more attacking line-up at the moment, and that puts more pressure on the lads who are out-and-out defenders.”